Voting brisk despite foul weather

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/10/2010 (5535 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – Winnie the Pooh would have called it a “Winds-Day,” but for everyone else in Winnipeg it’s nothing but ugly as rain and winds gusting up to 90 km/h pounded the city on its municipal election day.

Still, no amount of water or wind was going to stop voters from hitting the polling station at Andrew Mynarski V.C. Junior High School in the Point Douglas ward.

“There was no way I was going to miss being here. I figure if you’re going to complain, you have to vote,” said Henrietta Irvine.

A steady stream of people made their way into the gym to cast their ballots shortly after the polls opened at 8 a.m. A straw poll indicated about 25 per cent of them voted for Sam Katz for mayor, while incumbent councillor Mike Pagtakhan garnered a solid 100 per cent.

Many believed seniors might be hampered by the weather, but with all the options available to get to the polls – both Katz and Judy Wasylycia-Leis are offering rides – there was no reason not to get out and exercise their rights, voters at the polling station said.

“I think people are interested enough in having their voice heard. If you don’t vote you have no reason to complain after the fact,” said Kim, who didn’t want to give his last name.

“Having said that, if the people getting voted in don’t listen, that’s how you get voter apathy.”

There was no apathy at the school as voters weighed in on their main concerns: crime and infrastructure.

“We just had some friends come in from Europe and they have cow trails there better than our streets. I’m tired of fixing my car,” said Polson Street resident Andrew Johnson.

His partner, Shirley Robinson, said they live on a nice part of the street, but are worried about what goes on after dark.

“Judy is about the community, but the community is so divided. Everyone just wants to stay in,” she said.

It was that community spirit and need for change that brought Cecilia Trylinski out early to get her vote in.

“I think we need a change. [Judy]’s been with the federal government so many years and knows what she’s doing. Give somebody else a chance,” she said.

The polls are open tonight until 8 p.m.  Winnipegfreepress.com will offer live, up-to-the-minute video and text coverage of the election results as they come in, starting at 8 p.m.